Lira Regional Referral Hospital Commissions 45-Bed Urogynecology and Fistula Ward

Lira Regional Referral Hospital has commissioned a new 45-bed Urogynecology and Fistula Ward and Training Centre, a move expected to strengthen specialized maternal health services in Northern Uganda.

The facility, constructed at a cost of Shs600 million, was built under a partnership between the Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) and the Ministry of Health Uganda through the MUSA Project.

The ward was officially commissioned on March 7 by the Minister of Health and Lira City Woman MP, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero.

Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, the Director of Lira Regional Referral Hospital, Dr. Andrew Odur, said the new facility marks a significant milestone in improving access to specialised obstetric and gynaecological services in the region.

“This development shows the power of partnership. Through collaboration with MUST and other stakeholders, we are expanding our capacity to offer specialised care to our people,” Odur said.

He noted that the hospital handles about 8,400 deliveries annually, with approximately 25% of mothers undergoing caesarean section, translating to nearly 2,100 operations each year.

However, the limited space in the existing wards has been a major challenge, especially for mothers recovering from surgery.

The Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the hospital, Dr. James Okello, commended the Ministry of Health for supporting the project, saying it will help health workers improve their skills while addressing the growing burden of fistula in the region.

He said the upgraded ward now has 45 beds and handles between 100 and 120 patients every month through routine services and specialised surgical camps.

Dr. Okello also praised Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero for championing health sector development and lobbying projects that have strengthened services at the hospital.

“We thank the Ministry of Health for the continued support. Such developments enable us as medical workers to build our skills and provide better care to our patients,” he said.

According to Okello, the hospital has also conducted fistula repair outreach camps in various parts of the country, including Jinja and Busia districts, where close to 300 patients were treated.

He added that more specialised equipment is expected to arrive from the United States to support not only urogynecology services but other surgical interventions at the hospital.

“As a department, we commit to maintaining the facility and ensuring it serves the community effectively,” he said.

The project was spearheaded by urogynecology specialist Assoc. Prof. Musa Kayondo of Mbarara University of Science and Technology, who represented the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Pauline Byakika-Kibwika.

Kayondo said the centre will serve both as a treatment facility and a training hub for specialists in urogynecology — a highly specialised field focusing on pelvic floor disorders affecting women.

He noted that MUST runs the first urogynecology fellowship programme in East, Central and Southern Africa, aimed at building a skilled workforce capable of managing complex maternal health conditions.

The chairperson of the hospital board, Dr. Fred Nyangkori, said the hospital still faces serious space constraints in the maternity ward, forcing some mothers to sleep on the floor or in corridors.

“At one point we had to improvise a tent near the maternity ward to accommodate postnatal mothers due to limited space,” Nyangkori said.

He appealed to the government to prioritise the construction of a comprehensive maternity complex with a dedicated obstetric theatre to address the growing demand for maternal health services.

While commissioning the facility, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero said the ward was established partly to address the high number of fistula cases in the Lango sub-region, which has the highest backlog of unrepaired fistula cases in Uganda, according to data from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

She attributed many cases to teenage pregnancies and obstructed labour, urging young girls to avoid early pregnancies.

“My advice to our girls is to avoid pregnancy when their bodies are not yet mature enough because that is one of the main causes of fistula,” Aceng said.

She added that the government plans to construct a five-storey Maternal and Child Health Complex at the hospital to address congestion and improve care for mothers and newborns.

Meanwhile, the Resident City Commissioner of Lira City, Lawrence Egole, warned against encroachment on hospital land, saying such acts hinder development projects at the referral facility.

He urged residents to support government initiatives aimed at improving health infrastructure in the region.

The Mayor of Lira City, Sam Atul, also called on government to ensure the contractor working on the Apac–Lira–Kitgum road upgrades a two-kilometre stretch within Lira City, from Shell Roundabout through Old Akii Bua Road and Lira Regional Referral Hospital to Teso Bar.

Officials say the new facility will help restore dignity to women suffering from fistula and strengthen specialised maternal health services for the Lango sub-region and neighbouring areas.